Second Canticle of Paschal Vigil

Exodus 15:1-2

A vineyard was made on a hill in a fruitful place. ℣. And he fenced it in, and picked the stones out of it, and planted it with the choicest vines, and built a tower in the midst thereof. ℣. And set up a winepress therein: for the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel.

Haydock

Verse 1. Canticle. Origen reckons this to be the most ancient piece of poetry. It is truly sublime, and calculated to fill the souls of those, who say their late cruel masters, now prostrate at their feet in death, with sentiments of the greatest gratitude and piety towards their almighty benefactor. H. — God miraculously gave utterance to the dumb on this occasion, (Widsom x. 21.) and taught the whole congregation of Israel to join in harmonious concert. (De Mirab. S. S. inter. op. S. Aug.) This mode of perpetuating the memory of past benefits by canticles, is very common in Scripture. C. — Let us sing. So the Sept. The Heb. has “I will sing…for he hath triumphed gloriously.” This canticle was composed by Moses, about 1491 years B.C. H.

Verse 2. Praise. The printed Heb. is here irregular, but some MSS. agree with the Vulg. Chal. and Arab. Ken. i. p. 400. — To him my praise is due on all titles. H. — God. Hebrew el, “the strong one.” M.

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